"Such a good girl," he whispered in her ear as he took the empty bowl from her hands. The words sent a shiver down her spine, and she found herself leaning into his touch. No one had ever called her that. The first time he'd spoken those words was during their thousand veils training, his voice carrying that same dangerous warmth that made her pulse skip. Now, like then, the praise settled somewhere deep in her chest, making her feel both accomplished and treasured with just three simple words.
"I-um," she turned her gaze to stare at her ceiling, fighting the urge to bite her lip again. The gesture felt too intimate now that she knew how he'd respond to it. "Color? What's your favorite... color?"
Mo Xing chuckled, and she could hear the smile in his voice without having to look at him. "My Little Tempest, are you actually trying to start with something so innocent?"
She nodded her head, feeling strangely adrift.
